Brewin Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Brewin Origin:

England

Origins of Brewin:

Listed in many forms such as Brewen, Brewin, Bruan, Brune, the diminutives Brewin and Brewing and the patronymic Brewins, this is an English surname. Dating from the 12th century and the very beginning of surnames, it is perhaps professional. If so, it acquires from the Olde English pre 7th century word “breowan”, which means to brew, and a brewer or sometimes the son of a brewer, and whereas the suffix being a short form of “-kin”, and the secondary addition of’-s’, itself a shortened version of ‘son’. There is also a possible meaning, in that the Olde English-Gaels-Celts were very keen on identifying nicknames, especially those based upon a particular appearance, and it is possible that in some examples, the name may be a patronymic based upon “brun”, which means “the brown-faced (or haired) one”. An example here would be those of Hugh le Brun of Suffolk in 1273, or Johanna la Brune, of the same date and division. Later examples contain as Thomas Bruynne, an observer at the Parish of St. Mary Somerset, in the city of London, in January 1594, Mary Bruens, named at St. Katherine by the Tower (of London), in April 1682; and John Brewin, who married Jane Snar at Howden, East Yorkshire, in November 1735.

Variations:

More common variations are: Bre- Win, Barewin, Brewion, Brein, Brewn, Brwin, Brewen, Burwin, Prewin, Brewan

England:

The surname Brewin first appeared in Leicestershire where they held a family seat from old times. Some say well before the Norman Invasion and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD. The name was originally Bregwin, pronounced as Brewin.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Richard Briwerra, dated about 1192, in the “Pipe Rolls of Hampshire.” It was during the time of King Richard I, who was known to be the “The Lionheart,” dated 1189 – 1199. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varietions of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Brewin had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Some of the people with the name Brewin who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Edward Brewin landed in New York in 1831. William and Thomas Brewin who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1840.

Australia:

Some of the individuals with the surname Brewin who landed in Australia in the 19th century included Samuel Brewin, an English prisoner from Leicester, who was transported aboard the “America” in April 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia.

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Brewin who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included Robert Brewin arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bombay” in the year 1863. James Brewin, Peter Brewin and Eliza Brewin, all arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Woodlark” in the same year 1873.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Brewin: England 1,828; United States 388; Australia 297; Canada 227; South Africa 183; Scotland 66; Wales 56; New Zealand 52; Bermuda 19; Singapore 18.

Notable People:

Christopher Brewin was a British international relations professor.

Frank Brewin (1909–1976), was an Indian field hockey player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Ar. a chev. engr. sa. betw. three trefoils slipped vert. Crest—Two eagles’ wings endorsed ppr. semee of trefoils slipped vert.
2) (Loughborough, co. Leicester). Quarterly, or and az., a cross moline, in chief two mullets, pierced, all counterchanged. Crest—An unicorn pass. ar. armed, maned, and tufted or, collared and charged on the body with three mullets, pierced, in fesse az.